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Looped nonwoven webRelated Patent Categories: Stock Material Or Miscellaneous Articles, Pile Or Nap Type Surface Or ComponentLooped nonwoven web description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050281976, Looped nonwoven web. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/737,306 and 10/737,430, both filed on Dec. 16, 2003, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/581,679, filed Jun. 21, 2004. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The field of the invention is related to nonwoven webs and products made from the nonwoven webs. More specifically, the invention is related to obtaining a textured nonwoven web that contains loops. The looped web may be used in various product applications. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In many product applications it is desirable that fibrous webs have a bulky texture and/or softness. For example, textile wovens known as terry cloth have a bulky texture and softness and are often used for bath towels, wiping cloths, bibs, clothing, and upholstery fabric. Terry cloth is woven on specially made weaving machines, such as rapier weaving machines. Terry cloth is characterized by tufted loops of thread, and the tufts can be varied in number and density of loops. However, terry cloth is relatively expensive due to the relatively complex and expensive weaving machines necessary for its manufacture. The expense of terry cloth makes it commercially unfeasible for many applications, particularly for articles intended for limited use, such as disposable absorbent articles. [0004] Attempts have been made to produce a nonwoven fabric having the appearance of terry cloth. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,465,726 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,799, both to Holmes et al., describe an apertured, ribbed terry cloth-like nonwoven fabric produced by fluid entangling of fibers on a special forming belt. Even if apertures could be avoided in the method disclosed in Holmes et al., it is well known that fluid entangling is a relatively expensive process for manufacture of nonwoven webs, particularly for webs intended for disposable article use. Furthermore, webs formed by fluid entangling typically have been subjected to forces of the fluid in all the regions of the web so that the entire web is subjected to the applied mechanical energy of the fluid forces. [0005] Other methods are known to provide bulky texture and/or softness. One method includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,518,801 and 5,650,214 and US publication 2002-0128617-A1 which describe methods of providing elastic-like behavior and soft, cloth-like texture. Other methods include the PGI Apex technology described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,670,234 and 4,674,591, among others. [0006] Despite attempts made, there is a further desire to produce nonwoven webs with terry cloth-like properties. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] The present invention relates to a nonwoven web comprising at least one region containing a plurality of loops. At least a portion of said loops having a loop circumference length to loop base length ratio that is greater than about 4:1. The loops may also have a base length less than 0.5 cm and a base length less than the maximum width of the loops. The present invention also relates to articles selected from the group consisting of disposable hygiene articles and wipes comprising a nonwoven web wherein at least one region of the nonwoven web comprises loops in at least about 10% of the surface area of the nonwoven web. A method for producing a nonwoven web comprising a plurality of loops is also included. The method comprises the steps of providing a nonwoven web; providing means for moving fibers of the nonwoven web into the shape of a loop; and moving fibers of the nonwoven web into the shape of a loop. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a loop. [0009] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a closed loop. [0010] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a loop showing various measurements. [0011] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a loop showing various measurements. [0012] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a loop showing the void area. [0013] FIG. 6 is a photomicrograph of a loop. [0014] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a looped web. [0015] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of the looped web. [0016] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of section 3-3 of FIG. 8. [0017] FIG. 10 is a photomicrograph of a portion of the looped web. [0018] FIG. 11 is a photomicrograph of a portion of the looped web. [0019] FIG. 12 is a photomicrograph of a portion of the looped web. Continue reading about Looped nonwoven web... Full patent description for Looped nonwoven web Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Looped nonwoven web patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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